This week's front cover: sheep grazing wheat in Co Meath

Back to traditional ways: Louis McAuley standing in his crop of fast-developing Celule winter wheat after he let his neighbour Derek Brangan’s sheep graze the crop. The crop belongs to McAuley Feeds in Burtonstown, Co Meath, and has been direct drilled for a number of years. The traditional practice of grazing off the vegetation on strong crops is thought to give it an advantage and Louis has been thinking abut doing it for many years now. \ Philip Doyle

Tuesday's cattle sale at Ennis Mart

Pat O'Brien from Meelick and Michael Cleary from Ennis at Ennis Mart. \ Hany Marzouk

Alan Kelly from Ballinasloe and Michael O'Toole from Loughrea. \ Hany Marzouk

John Hannon from Quinn and Ennis Mart manager Martin McNamara. \ Hany Marzouk

James O'Grady from Crusheen and Jim Sheedy from Ennis. \ Hany Marzouk

Liam Dunne scanning sheep

Liam Dunne scanning ewes on a farm outside Mountrath, Co Laois. Scanning rates have been variable so far, with many early-lambing flocks achieving lower litter sizes, while mid-season lambing flocks have seen an improvement on these levels. \ Philip Doyle

Spreading lime in Co Cavan

Contractor Patrick Cassidy of Cassidy Bros spreading lime for organic beef and sheep farmer Jane Shackleton on her farm at Mullagh, Co Cavan. \ Barry Cronin

My farming week: Alison Daly in Co Meath

Alison Daly is a dairy and sheep farmer with her parents at Clonard, Co Meath. The family is currently milking 100 cows, but has plans for expansion in the future. In addition to milking, the family also keeps 100 ewes, but plans to cut back on this number in the future. \ Philip Doyle

January baling in Co Tipperary

David Young loading bales that his brother Tim Jnr made for their father Tim Snr on the family farm at Ballinahinch, Birdhill, Co Tipperary. The silage was mown on New Year’s Day and baled on 4 January. David will use the bales for his 40-cow Charolais-cross suckler herd. \ Donal O’Leary

John O'Halloran moving heifers in Co Tipperary

John O’Halloran giving heifers a fresh break of a forage crop on the farm of dairy farmer Paddy Nihill in Puckaun, Co Tipperary. John is also studying for his Green Cert in Gurteen Agricultural College. \ Philip Doyle

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Around the country in pictures

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